The following Op-Ed was written and submitted by local photographer Rachel Stevens.
As someone who has cherished Cape Charles since my childhood, I feel deeply compelled to speak out against the proposed beachfront master plan. My parents first brought me here in 1997, and I’ve watched this special place evolve over the years. Cape Charles has always held a unique charm—a blend of natural beauty, rich history, and a tight-knit local community that makes it unlike any other coastal town. I’ve spent countless hours here as a local who calls this place home.
The beachfront has seen its fair share of change, but nothing as sweeping and irreversible as this proposal. This new master plan threatens to rip away everything our town stands for. The delicate balance between progress and preservation is at risk, and I fear this plan will tip us over the edge. What makes Cape Charles so extraordinary is its sense of authenticity. It’s a place where both locals and visitors alike can feel the heartbeat of a genuine coastal town, where the sunsets over the dunes are magical, and the environment feels untouched.
For me, as a professional photographer who conducts about five sessions a week down at our beach, I’ve been privileged to capture the natural beauty of the dunes, the soft golden light, and the joy on families’ faces as they interact with the untouched charm of the area. This is what draws people here—not commercialization or overdevelopment. This plan would fundamentally alter what makes Cape Charles so special, stripping away that timeless beauty in favor of something much less authentic.
Beyond the visual impact, the environmental toll concerns me the most. The dunes are a fragile, precious ecosystem. They serve as a natural barrier, protect wildlife, and contribute to the overall health of the shoreline. Disrupting this ecosystem could have devastating consequences not only for the environment but also for our future generations. Once the dunes are gone, they’re gone for good.
What’s even more disheartening is that changes like these have a tendency to push locals further and further away from the town they love. Cape Charles thrives on tourism, but it’s the locals who keep the town alive long after the tourists have left. We are the ones who stay here year-round, who attend the town meetings, who raise our families here, volunteer, and who support local businesses even when the streets aren’t bustling with visitors. This plan doesn’t just impact the aesthetics of the beach; it threatens the very soul of our community. If we continue down this path, the charm that brought so many people here—including my own family—will be lost.
I urge the town council to reconsider this beachfront master plan and to listen to the voices of those who have lived here, loved here, and invested in the future of Cape Charles. The charm of this town is irreplaceable, and we need to cherish it, not pave over it in the name of progress. Our town’s future depends on preserving its past and protecting its environment, not on creating a version of Cape Charles that caters only to short-term interests. Let’s keep the locals at the heart of this town, because when tourist season dries up for the year, we are still here, standing strong and invested in this place we call home.
Editor’s Note: Your voices must be heard. Just because you don’t own property in town, or no longer reside inside Cape Charles, the fate of Public Beach, while it is still public, concerns you and your family. Locals have a stake in what happens to the beach and need to speak up. Let them know what you think.
All comments should be submitted either through the Beachfront Master Plan Virtual Public Meeting Room, or by email to our Town Clerk Libby Hume – Email: clerk@capecharles.org.
